OMAHA, Neb.  This isn’t Bobby Shore’s first trip to the World Series, but it is his first visit to the one played here. And it will be his first chance to pitch on such a stage.

Shore, a 6-foot-1 junior right-hander from Oceanside, will be on the mound Tuesday night for Oklahoma when the Sooners meet Clemson at Rosenblatt Stadium in the College World Series.

“This is the best place to be right now,” said Shore. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

It is similar to how Shore felt in 2001, when he was a member of the Oceanside American team that reached the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. An injury limited him to a pinch-hitting role, although it remains memorable.

“First time up I got a base hit and a couple of RBIs,” said Shore. “And I struck out against Almonte. That’s always a good story to talk about.”

“Almonte” would be Danny Almonte, a pitcher for the Bronx team, who made headlines for dominating at the Little League World Series — including throwing the first perfect game in 44 years — but is best remembered for being two years too old for Little League.

That seems a lifetime ago now for Shore, who has developed into quite a pitcher in his own right. He went 11-1 as a senior at Oceanside High three years ago and was also 11-1 last year at Palomar Community College.

It was while playing for the Comets that Shore caught the eye of Oklahoma coach Sunny Golloway.

“You always recruit a guy and think he’s going to be pretty good,” said Golloway. “He was a Junior College All-American, but he wasn’t 93 (mph). I’m looking up there late in a game and seeing 93 on the scoreboard. Everybody’s board is a little different, their gun. But 93s? The thing’s really popping.”

Oklahoma opened the season at San Diego State. Shore made his first start at Tony Gwynn Stadium, getting the victory to complete a four-game sweep of the Aztecs.

“When I beat them it gave me a lot of confidence that I can compete,” said Shore, who is 10-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 91 innings. “I can pitch here and pitch with anyone else. That gave me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season.”

That’s not always how Golloway saw it from the dugout, however.

“I tell him all the time,” said Golloway, “ ‘If you really knew how good you were you’d be pounding the zone like crazy instead of nibbling on the outside.’ ”

The coach had finally seen enough during Shore’s start last month against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament.

Golloway went out to visit Shore at one point early in the game, followed by Oklahoma catcher Tyler Ogle and joined by the Sooners’ infielders. They expected a conference on the mound. But Golloway waved them away, preferring a private conversation with the pitcher.

“Bobby and I just had a little cap-to-cap and heart-to-heart,” said Golloway. “It was basically, ‘This is really ridiculous when you have that kind of stuff. Let’s be men of courage and let’s go.’

“And I went back and sat down and everybody wanted to know what I said.”

Golloway didn’t share the conversation.

“That’s between Bobby and me,” he said. “But I’m going to tell you what, Bobby pitched his tail off and he hasn’t looked back.”

Oklahoma ended up beating Kansas State 13-2 that day, but Shore came away with more than a victory. He also learned a few things.

“Trust myself,” said Shore. “I know I’m a really good pitcher. And trust my teammates. I know they have my back. Let them play for me.”

In the NCAA Regionals, Shore pitched the clinching game in a 3-2 win over North Carolina and was named MVP. He also pitched the clinching game of the Super Regionals against Virginia, tossing eight shutout innings to send Oklahoma to Omaha for the first time in 15 years.

Of challenging Shore on the mound, Golloway said: “Sometimes when you do that guys just melt right there. And sometimes they stand up and they’re basically forged into what they should be.

“I really think that’s where Bobby is right now. He’s having fun, he’s excited and he knows he’s getting the ball.”